Bearing assembly

ABSTRACT

A self-aligning bearing assembly in which the bearing is axially movable with respect to the housing while maintaining a fixed relation with respect to the shaft.

United States Patent 1 Zimmer et a1.

Nov. 5, 1974 BEARING ASSEMBLY Inventors: George A. Zimmer, Ithaca, N.Y.;

Hilarius S. Struttmann, St. Charles, 111.

Assignee: Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago,

Ill.

Filed: Aug. 30, 1973 Appl. No.: 393,113

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 278,]39, Aug. 4,1972.

U.S. Cl. 308/194, 308/207 Int. Cl Fl6c 23/00, F160 33/00 Field of Search308/194, 184, 35

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1923 Hanson 308/l94Primary ExaminerCharles J. Myhre Assistant ExaminerF. S. Frank SuskoAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Aubrey L. Burgess [57] ABSTRACT A self-aligningbearing assembly in which the bearing is axially movable with respect tothe housing while maintaining a fixed relation with respect to theshaft.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUNDV 5 1974 ON .H

BEARING ASSEMBLY This is a division, of application SCI. No. 278,139filed Aug. 4, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION THE INVENTION According to this invention,there is provided a bearing assembly which comprises a housing and abearing in the housing assembled in such a manner that the bearing isfully self-aligning and is capable of axial .movement with respect tothe housing. The bearing is fixed to a shaft being supported thereby ina fixed relationship regardless of the axial position of the bearingwith respect to the housing.

Axial movement of the bearing with respect to the housing is permittedby using insert ring means between the bearing and the housing. Theseinsert rings engage the outer spherical surface of the bearing,permitting the bearing to be fully self-aligning and are-slidable withrespect to the inner cylindrical surface of the housing. They are, ineffect, adaptor rings. In some embodiments, one or more of the ringsslidably engage the housing surface. In another embodiment, acylindricalinner housing is between the rings and the housing, the innerhousing being in slidable contact with the inner cylindrical surface ofthe housing.

Means are provided for retaining the bearing in the housing, so that thebearing remains in the housing under extreme conditions. Such means maybe various combinations of depending housing flanges, snap rings fittingin grooves in the housing and a spring washer between an insert ringmeans and the snap ring.

The bearing may be of the roller or ball variety while the housing maybe a pillow block or a flange block without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an illustration of a typical pillow blockincorporating a bearing such as depicted in FIGS. 2 to 6 inclusive andFIGS. 2 to 6 inclusive are sectional views through bearing assembliesconstructed according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Looking at the drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates atypical pillow block housing 10 which is a casting having a relativelyflat base 12 with elongated openings through which bolts (not shown)pass to connect the block to a suitable support. The housing 10 isprovided with a cylindrical opening 16 to receive a bearing assembly 18which is connected by a shaft locking means 20 to a shaft 22 beingsupported thereby.

In each embodiment, the bearing 18 is identical and I comprises acylindrical inner race 26 having spaced inner raceways 28, 30. The innerrace receives the shaft 22 and the locking means 20 engages raceextensions 32 to lock the shafts to the race. In some constructions onlyone locking means 20 is required. The bearing has an outer race 34 withspaced outer raceways 36, 38 and an outer spherical surface 40. In theembodiments illustrated, sets of rollers 42 are positioned between theraces and engage the raceways. A retainer or cage 44 is provided foreach set of rollers 42 and maintains the rollers spaced withoutinterferring with relative rotation between the races.

The outer race 34 is illustrated as being made of two halves, joinedvertically, and is provided with extensions 46. Grease seals 48 arepositioned between the inner race and the extensions 46. Grease isintroduced into the bearing through an opening 50 which communicateswith a-grease fitting 52 on the housing 10. The structure just describedis identical for each of the modifications illustrated.

FIG. 2 illustrates an assembly in which a pair of ring insert means60are positioned between to engage the surface of thehousing opening 16and the surface 40 of the outer race 34, so as to limited lateralmovement of the bearing 18 relative to the housing l0while maintaining afixed relationship between the bearing 18 and the shaft 22. The bearingis retained in the housing by a depending housing flange 62 at one endof the housing 10 and a snap ring 64 fitting in a groove 66 at the otherend of the housinglO.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment in which the housing 10 has aportion 70 at one end thereof engaging the outer race 34 and a ringinsert 72 adjacent the other end thereof. A snap ring 74 in a groove 76is provided adjacent the ring insert 72, and a spring washer 78resiliently urges the ring insert into continued engagement with theouter race 34. This construction permits lateral movement in onedirection.

FIG. 4 illustrates another modification of the invention in which theretaining means comprises a pair'of ring inserts 80 each resilientlyurged toward the outer race 34 by snap rings 82 in housing grooves 84and spring washers 86 between the snap rings and the inserts.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment which is similar to the FIG. 2embodiment except the ring inserts 90 are centrally joined by a spacer92. The retaining means here comprises the depending housing flange 94and the snap ring 96 fitting in a housing groove 98.

FIG. 6 is still another embodiment and has ring inserts 100 joinedcentrally by a spacer 102 and encased in a substantially cylindricalmember 104 having turned flanges 106 retaining the bearing and ringinserts as a unit. The retaining means comprises the depending housingflange 108 and snap ring 110 received in housing groove 112 actingagainst the insert.

While the embodiments have been described with reference to a pillowblock housing and roller bearings, it should be apparent that a flangehousing and/or ball bearings can be used without departing from thespirit of the invention.

We claim:

l. A self-aligning bearing comprising:

a housing having a generally cylindrically surfaced openingtherethrough, said housing being adapted to be fixed to a support.

a bearing assembly received in said opening, said bearing assemblycomprising:

an inner race having a central cylindrical opening for receiving a shaftand outer spaced frusto-conical raceways;

an outer racehaving an outer spherical surface and inner spacedfrusto-conical raceways; and

sets of rollers, each set being between opposed inner and outer racewaysand in rolling contact therewith;

ring means comprising a pair of annular ring members each having acontinuous annular inner spherical surface and a continuous outercylindrical surface said ring members being located between the outerspherical surface of said outer race and said cylindrical surface ofsaid housing with one ring member being opposite one set of rollers andthe other being opposite the other set of rollers, said annular ringmembers permitting pivotable movement of said bearing assembly withrespect to said housing in response to shaft misalignment relative tosaid support, means for retaining said ring members in said housingpermitting lateral movement of said bearing assembly relative to saidhousing, said retaining means comprising a groove in said housing, asnap ring in said groove and a spring washer between a ring means and asnap ring.

2. A bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein a housing groove anda snap ring is adjacent to each end of said housing.

3. A bearing assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein

1. A self-aligning bearing comprising: a housing having a generallycylindrically surfaced opening therethrough, said housing being adaptedto be fixed to a support. a bearing assembly received in said opening,said bearing assembly comprising: an inner race having a centralcylindrical opening for receiving a shaft and outer spacedfrusto-conical raceways; an outer race having an outer spherical surfaceand inner spaced frusto-conical raceways; and sets of rollers, each setbeing between opposed inner and outer raceways and in rolling contacttherewith; ring means comprising a pair of annular ring members eachhaving a continuous annular inner spherical surface and a continuousouter cylindrical surface said ring members being located between theouter spherical surface of said outer race and said cylindrical surfaceof said housing with one ring member being opposite one set of rollersand the other being opposite the other set of rollers, said annular ringmembers permitting pivotable movement of said bearing assembly withrespect to said housing in response to shaft misalignment relatIve tosaid support, means for retaining said ring members in said housingpermitting lateral movement of said bearing assembly relative to saidhousing, said retaining means comprising a groove in said housing, asnap ring in said groove and a spring washer between a ring means and asnap ring.
 2. A bearing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein a housinggroove and a snap ring is adjacent to each end of said housing.
 3. Abearing assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein spring washers arelocated between each snap ring and the adjacent ring means.